HP may launch new NFC-enabled tablets and phones later this year

HP is working on phones and tablets with built-in near-field communication (NFC) technology for mobile payments, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Much like Google Wallet, which will soon launch for the Nexus S and eventually other Android devices, HP hopes its customers will be able to use the company’s products to make mobile purchases in retail outlets. Similarly, HP has a plan to create an entire ecosystem where users will be able to to receive coupons or other benefits, such as loyalty points, from NFC-enabled advertisements. While sources told Bloomberg the products could launch by year-end, HP hasn’t been known to deliver new mobile devices to the market very quickly in the past. It’s also still unclear who the company’s mobile payment partners will be.

HP deserves some credit trying in tablets. I won’t judge the touchpad until I try it myself. Even if they get a quality product in the shelf, I fear that this is the platform that his most likely to be doomed. I know the user experience is a different, but their offering looks very similar to Apple’s IPad. At the same price points, I don’t see many people choosing the HP tablet over the IPad. Just look at all the pricey Android tablets that are struggling now.
In the tablet space, Playbook is the only other high end offering that has has significant appeal. Even that is a distant second to the Ipad although it will probably get better as the software keeps getting better. We’ll if touchpad can sneak into third in 2011. I doubt…

PC487

“While sources told Bloomberg the products could launch by
year-end, HP hasn’t been known to deliver new mobile devices to the
market very quickly in the past.”

That very well may be the biggest understatement I’ve ever heard.

Anonymous

NFC phones are more desirable than the bulk of tablets. I want a tablet to read or compute. Anything else can (and should) be smaller.

Anonymous

Seriously? The WebOS debut was what, over two years ago. Since then, there hasn’t been a single significant new piece of hardware from Palm/HP. Their tablet hasn’t even been released, and we’re hearing about future tablets?

Anonymous

Yeah, but whats HP doing right now? All I ever hear about is “in the coming months”, “later this year” or “in the near future”. Didn’t they say they wanted to do a quick turn around between reveal announcements and product launches? I’m mostly talking about the Pre 3 I guess but it did take a while to even get the Veer out.

http://www.youtube.com/jeromeo1980 Jeromeo

So HP/Palm was late on tablets, super late on smartphones, and now they’re late on NFC. What a great business model. Be late for everything to somehow remain relevant…